Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-19
ESCAPED CREMATION.
Living Woman's Hair-breadth Escape
from q Horrible Death.

n LAYING WOm0ns Hafr-OreaQtn Escape
from Horrible Death.
The danger of burial or incarceration of
bodies in which life is not extinct is one
of the subjects which will be considered
at the sessions of the International Medi-
cal Congress in this city, and it is under
stood that reference will be made to the
following thrilling account of a case in
point, contained in dispatch from New
York, dated July 18th last
A living woman for whom the crematory
furnace was at its fercest heat of 300
degrees Fahrenheit, and for whom the
ALAN sheet was already prepared, is with
her husband and children. although on
Thursday last she lay in her coffin in a
room adjoining the vault where incinera-
ton is done. Mount Olivet Crematorv.
in the form of Grecian temple, is located
at Fresh Pond, L. l., and DIR. Hughes, con-
uected with it, vouches for the correctness
of the story, but withholds both the name
of the physician who signed the death GER
tiicate and that of the lady for the present.
On the day mentioned casket contain
ing the body of a woman arrived at the
crematory. Accompanying it were the
widower, children and half dozen rel
atiyes. The casket was carried into the
reception-room, and by its side was placed
a costly silver urn, in which the
ashes were to be subsequently placed
for final keeping. After a Simple
service the lid of the coffin was removed,
and the mourners, one by one, took last
fearful look. The lid was replaced, and
the floral emblems again placed on the
coffin. The widower and weeping children
were led away to the carriages and the
dead was left to the crematory assistants
for incarceration. When they were
gone men removed the entire
lid and went about preparing
the alum sheet for enveloping the body
and swinging the chilled steel cradle into
position before the glowing furnace doors.
While they were absent DR.. Hughes
turned to a small mirror, and, while ar
ranging his tie, was startled by faint
voice at his back saying: "Where am ?'
Turning quickly he saw the woman sit
ting bolt upright in her casket, staring di-
re4ly at him. When he gathered his
scattered wits he realized that prompt ac-
ton was needed, and stepping to her side
he said Familiarity: "You are with friends"
She had already swung her legs out of
the casket, and was looking in dazed way
at the urn and then at her satin burial
robes. Assisting her out of the dread
full coffin, and encircling her with one
arm, he carefully kept her head turned
from her resting-place, and half led, half
carried her to a cheerful bedroom over
head, occupied by the Superintendent
and his wife. Soft tbreezes were COM
ing in the window, and CHEEKY
canary bird in an alcove sung song of
Joy. While the Superintendent's wife re-
moved the garments Of death and put the
lady to bed. Dr. Hughes hurried away
and returned with some brandy and milk.
The drink had the effect of bringing a
flush to the cheeks of the patient, sue
ceeded Immediately by a quiet doze The
telegraph was brought into requisition, and
the husband was soon back at the crematory
with set of his wife's apparel. While he
was yet on his way his wife was
awakened from her nap and asked :
Whose clothes am | wearing?" They
were those of the crematory, but that fact
was ingeniously concealed in the reply,
which seemed to satisfy her. The severest
task was when the husband arrived, when
they tried to school him into self-control
for the interview. The course of proceed
ure agreed upon was carried out to the
letter. The husband went into the room
with the usual inquiry as to how she felt,
and said that if she felt herself strong
enough they would return to the city
that, in his opinion, she had stayed long
enough in the country.
Aoquiescing in everything, although
somewhat mystifed, she arose, dressed her
sell, and announced that she was ready.
The husband was now in tortured frame
of mind, for he dreaded passing the
front door, where in large letters was the
word Crematory" The shock of the
discovery he feared would kill his
wife Happily there was rear
door, and through this he led her
to close carriage, and thence, regardless
of the fact that there was no road, he had
the carriage driven straight across the
lawn and field until kindly trees hid the
Creamatory from sight. Then he took the
smooth pike to the nearest railroad station
and train thence home.
The lady's death was attributed to heart
disease, and the doctors certificate to this
effect is on file in the Health Office
Washington Erening Star.